22 Kids And Counting’s Sue Radford was ‘knocked for six’ as she shared some devastating health news after her husband Noel spotted a worrying sign.
Things got very emotional during a conversation between the married couple during Sunday’s episode of the Channel 5 show.
Noel had pointed out that Sue wasn’t acting herself.
He started to worry more when he found some leaflets about living as a young person with dementia in their car.
Noel decided to address what he had seen in their van and asked Sue: ‘What’s been going on?’
Sue told her husband: ‘I’m sorry, it’s been awful!
Sue Radford shared some devastating health news after her husband Noel spotted a worrying sign
Noel and Sue Radford have been married since 1992 – and share 22 kids
Referring to one of their closes friends, she went on:’But now she’s told her family, I can tell you, so… she’s got early onset dementia.’
Noel replied: ‘Oh my God.’
Sue told him: ‘Gradually her memory will get worse.
‘It’s a reality check, it could happen to anyone and you never know what’s around the corner.’
The voiceover explained that the pair’s lifelong pal had been diagnosed with the disease at the age of 49.
Noel said of the diagnosis: ‘It is devastating news.
‘I knew there was something. I had all sorts of things going through my mind, thinking “Is it Sue? Something’s seriously wrong”.’
Sue said: ‘It’s really upset me, especially when she’s got youngish children as well.
WHAT IS DEMENTIA? 
Dementia is an umbrella term used to describe a range of neurological disorders
A GLOBAL CONCERN
Dementia is an umbrella term used to describe a range of progressive neurological disorders (those affecting the brain) which impact memory, thinking and behaviour.
There are many types of dementia, of which Alzheimer’s disease is the most common.
Some people may have a combination of different types of dementia.
Regardless of which type is diagnosed, each person will experience dementia in their own unique way.
Dementia is a global concern but it is most often seen in wealthier countries, where people are likely to live into very old age.
HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE AFFECTED?
The Alzheimer’s Society reports there are more than 900,000 people living with dementia in the UK today. This is projected to rise to 1.6 million by 2040.
Alzheimer’s disease is the most common type of dementia, affecting between 50 and 75 per cent of those diagnosed.
In the US, it’s estimated there are 5.5 million Alzheimer’s sufferers. A similar percentage rise is expected in the coming years.
As a person’s age increases, so does the risk of them developing dementia.
Rates of diagnosis are improving but many people with dementia are thought to still be undiagnosed.
IS THERE A CURE?
Currently there is no cure for dementia.
But new drugs can slow down its progression and the earlier it is spotted, the more effective treatments can be.
Source: Alzheimer’s Society
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Read More Sue Radford misses the birth of 13th grandchild because Noel takes her on holiday before due date 
‘You don’t expect that, do you?
‘You kind of think, don’t you, that it’s something you get when you’re maybe 70, 80 – it’s not something you think of in your late 40s, is it?
‘It’s knocked me for six.
‘I feel like “Wow, that could happen to anybody, couldn’t it?”‘
Later on in the episode Sue went to go and visit her friend.
Sue said of her pal: ‘She’s very bubbly, a big personality and she’s not the sort of person who will let things get to her.
‘But you can tell that she’s worried about it.
‘If you couldn’t remember, you know, like Heidi, Bonnie, Archie, whoever’s names, it’d just be heartbreaking.’
The Radfords sH๏τ to fame in 2012 and have been on our screens ever since.
Noel and Sue tied the knot in 1992 and are proud parents of 22 children.
Their kids are Chris, 35, Sophie, 31, Chloe, 29, Jack, 27, Daniel, 25, Luke, 24, Millie, 23, Katie, 22, James, 21, Ellie, 19, Aimee, 18, Josh, 17, Max, 16, Tillie, 14, Oscar, 13, Casper, 12, Hallie, nine, Phoebe, eight, Archie, seven, Bonnie, six, and Heidie, four.
22 Kids And Counting airs on Channel 5.
